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Aug 31 1862: I sent a telegram to Gen. Halleck informing him of the clash at Bolivar.

The following dispatch is received from Bolivar, Tenn. Col Hogg in command of the twentieth. Twenty ninth Ohio infantry & some cavalry were attacked by about four thousand Rebels yesterday. Our troops behaved well, driving the enemy whose loss was over one hundred. Ours twenty five men killed & wounded, Col. Hogg being one of the number.

U. S. Grant

The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 5, p 338

National Archives, RG 94, Generals’ Papers and Books, Telegrams Received by Gen. Halleck

Aug 30 1862. I have received a telegram from Gen. Leonard F. Ross in Jackson, TN.

A Dispatch just rec’d from Col Crocker comdg at Bolivar reports a large force of Infantry & Cavalry approaching that place on Grand Junction to Middlebury Road. He has drawn their cavalry back from his picket lines & skirmishing is now going on.

Later, I received another telegram from Gen. Ross,

I have just rec’d the following from Col Crocker at Bolivar. Col Leggett was sent out this morning about 9 nine o’clock with his brigade and Six 6 companies of cavalry and one section of artillery. He has been skirmishing ever since. Several have been killed.

Col. Leggett has sent in for reinforcements. I have sent him three 3 regiments.

He is out about four 4 miles. If hard pushed he will fall back to report.

The force of rebels about 4000 cavalry. I have no fears as to the result.

Finally I received this from Gen. Ross,

Hearing by telegraph of the engagement with the Enemy below this place, I took the evening train and arrived here at 6 Oclock this evening. I have just had the following report of the days work, from Col. Crocker, of the 13th Iowa Vol., who was in command.

I am proud of my command here; the officers and men, from all accounts, acted most gallantly.

Col. Crocker’s report read,

Number 2. Report of Colonel Marcellus M. Crocker, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, commanding Second Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., of skirmish near Bolivar, Tenn., August 30, 1862.

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, DISTRICT OF JACKSON, Bolivar, Tenn., August 30, 1862.

Colonel Leggett, commanding the First Brigade, was sent out by me this morning on the Grand Junction road, with one regiment of his brigade; four companies of the Second Illinois Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Hogg; two companies of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, under command of Major Puterbaugh, and one section of artillery, with instruction to drive off a force of the enemy’s cavalry, supposed to be 150 strong, and reconnoiter the country. Upon arriving at the ground Colonel Leggett at once became engaged with a large force of the enemy’s cavalry. The engagement lasted about seven hours, mostly skirmishing, but occasionally becoming a hand-to-hand fight, our forces repelling charges of the enemy’s cavalry. About 4 p.m. the enemy drew back, and Colonel Leggett, receiving re-enforcements about that time, did not renew the attack. I then ordered Colonel Leggett to fall back with his entire force to a position inside our picket lines, where he is now stationed, expecting a renewal of the attack at daylight.

We have lost in killed and wounded about 25, Lieutenant-Colonel Hogg, of the Second Illinois Cavalry, among the number.

During the engagement to day all the men [infantry, cavalry, and artillery] behaved with the greatest gallantry and, though opposed by largely superior numbers, not only maintained their ground but drove the enemy back. The force of the enemy engaged was seven regiments of cavalry.

Aug 29 1862. Major Rawlins received the following telegram from Gen. Rosecrans,

Major RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General:

I have no doubt that the poverty and destitution of the mountaineers in Northern Alabama is such that we could raise a large force for border service. They appear to desire an organization as Alabama troops. I have suggested to them the possibility of being at once organized as Tennessee troops. It is the opinion of Colonel Mizner that this will not effect the purpose. Could you not obtain authority from War Department to organize Alabama and Mississippi regiments? I think the measure should be promptly taken in hand, or the people will be driven by want into brigandage.

W. S. ROSECRANS,

Brigadier-General.

Seeking guidance on this, I wrote Gen. Halleck,

Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

Independent forces can be organized here, and from here east to Decatur. Shall they be accepted and received into the service? I am only in favor of it when they go into our old organizations.

Aug 25 1862. Gen McClernand has appealed directly to President Lincoln to be transferred to Virginia. Being bypassed has apparently angered Gen. Halleck. I sent a telegram to Gen. McClernand,

By directions just received from Maj. Gen. Halleck you will report to Springfield Ills, and assist Governor Yates in the organization of volunteers. Turn over your command to Brig. Gen. J A Logan if he has not left, if he has to Gen. Ross.

Since my letter of three or four days ago I have but little news to write about. You have probably seen that Col. Mason of the 71st Ohio, the man who was sent away on account of bad conduct at Shiloh, surrendered Clarkesville without firing a gun, also that the Guerrillas captured two steamers on the Tennessee. About sixty of our troops had a fight with a party of about three times their numbers of Kentucky recruits trying to join the rebels and drove them into the Tennessee killing 37 and taking 14 prisoners besides all their arms and many of their horses.

We have had several little fights since you left resulting favorably to our troops and one night alarm, here.

Rawlins is confined to his bed and is likely to be so for so long a time that I have ordered him home until he is able to take the field again. Bowers will have to take his place during his absence.

I have received three letters from home, one from Father, one from Mary and one to you from Alice Tweed which I enclose with this. From father’s letter they are very anxious to have Jess. He asks in all earnestness to let Jess. go to Covington to stay altogether. He says tell him that he will give him a house and lot in the City if he will go.

Remember me to your Pa, and all at home. Kisses for yourself and the children.

Aug 23 1862 I have just learned that Clarksville TN, just north of Nashville has been surrendered to the rebels along with its garrison of 200 men without firing a shot. The officer in command was Col. Mason. “Colonel Mason was one of the officers who had led their regiments off the field at almost the first fire of the rebels at Shiloh. He was by nature and education a gentleman, and was terribly mortified at his action when the battle was over. He came to me with tears in his eyes and begged to be allowed to have another trial. I felt great sympathy for him and sent him, with his regiment, to garrison Clarksville and Donelson. He selected Clarksville for his headquarters, no doubt because he regarded it as the post of danger, it being nearer the enemy. But when he was summoned to surrender by a band of guerillas, his constitutional weakness overcame him. He inquired the number of men the enemy had, and receiving a response indicating a force greater than his own he said if he could be satisfied of that fact he would surrender. Arrangements were made for him to count the guerillas, and having satisfied himself that the enemy had the greater force he surrendered and informed his subordinate at Donelson of the fact, advising him to do the same. The guerillas paroled their prisoners and moved upon Donelson, but the officer in command at that point marched out to meet them and drove them away.”

I wrote to Gen. Halleck to inform him,

Major General H. W. HALLECK:

GENERAL: Colonel Mason, with portion of the Seventy-first Ohio, surrendered Clarksville to the guerrillas. Prisoners were paroled and sent down the river. I ordered them to Benton Barracks, and have put Donelson and Henry under command of Colonel Lowe, and have ordered six companies of infantry up to re-enforce him.

Aug 21 1862 I received a response from Gen. Halleck to my repeat requests for cavalry,

Washington, August 21, 1862.

Major-General GRANT, Corinth, Miss.:

General Curtis’ cavalry is fully employed in Arkansas. Governor Johnson, of Tennessee, was requested some weeks ago to raise some cavalry regiments to act against guerrilla bands. I will send you more cavalry as soon as we can get it. You have charge of everything in your district, but no one has yet been designated to command the old department. It will probably be divided.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

I replied,

CORINTH, MISS., August 21, 1862-2 p.m.

Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

Two steamers are said to have been captured by guerrillas on the Tennessee on the 18th. Steamer Terry has gone down armed with four guns and a company of sharpshooters. General Tuttle informed me that three new regiments were to leave Springfield for Cairo yesterday and to-day. I have directed one of them and the Eleventh Illinois to occupy Paducah and Smithland; one to be sent to Columbus, and the other to remain at Cairo. There is such a demand for cavalry that I will have to mount infantry making secessionists furnish horses and forage. Should there not be two or three light-draught steamers bought and fitted up, proof against Minie balls, and armed with two guns each, to carry Government freight on the Tennessee from here?

Julia and the children left here on Saturday last for St. Louise where they will remain on a visit until about the last of the month. At the end of that time they must be some place where the children can go to school. Mrs. Hillyer has a nice house in the city and is all alone whilst her husband is on my staff and it may be that she and Julia will keep house together. If they do she would be very much pleased to have you make her a long visit. Julia says that she is satisfied that the best place for the children is in Covington. But there are as many of them that she sometimes feels as if they were not wanted. Their visit down here in Dixie was very pleasant and they were very loathe to leave.

Things however began to look so threatening that I thought it was best for them to leave. I am now in a situation where it is impossible for me to protect my long line of defense. I have the Mississippi to Memphis, the railroad from Columbus and to Corinth, from Jackson to Bolivar, from Corinth to Decatur and the Tennessee & Cumberland rivers to keep open. Guerrillas are hovering around in every direction getting whipped every day some place by some my command but keeping as busy. The war is evidently growing oppressive to the Southern people. Their institutions are beginning to have ideas of their own and every time an expedition goes out more or has of them follow in the wake of the army and come into camp. I am using them as teamsters, Hospital attendants, company cooks etc. thus saving soldiers to carry the musket. I don’t know what is to become of these poor people in the end but it weakening the enemy to take them. If the new levies are sent in soon the rebels will have a good time getting in their crops this fall.

I have abandoned all hope of being able to make a visit home ’till the close of the war. A few weeks recreation would be very grateful however. It is one constant strain now and has been for a year. If I do get through I think I will take a few months of pure and undefiled rest. I stand it well however having gained some fifteen pounds in weight since leaving Cairo. Give my love to all at home.